Michael Scheldrup
Wesbrook
Advanced English III
March 12, 2015
It’s Time for a Change
Social issues have lingered in the shadows of American history since the day that our independence was signed in 1776, a mere two hundred and thirty­nine years ago. At that time, social issues consisted of our founding father’s debate over which men were to be considered equal, and the social issue of slavery as a whole became prominent to our young nation. From slavery to suffrage, the United States is no stranger to defining these particular social wrongs, and striving to make them right. As time has developed, the issues of old have passed, but now, new ones have arose. Currently, sitting in 2015, the United States is again being subjected to another social issue; that is police brutality and the use of body cameras as a means of holding all parties involved accountable for their actions. It is simply irresponsible not to implement this new means of technology and I believe that it’s use is a key factor in solving the social issue of police brutality, and the untrust and stigmas that stem from this abuse of power.
Names like Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and Eric Garner have dominated headlines of many major news outlets for the past two years. The common factor between the three being the excessive use of force upon unarmed civilians. In the cases of Martin and Brown, both men were fatally shot, both were unarmed, and both had two conflicting sides of the story detailing the events leading up to and after their respective shootings. In each instance, many in the public were led to believe that racial stigmas were the determining reasons for the pulling of the trigger,

and as a result mass protests and riots have occurred in towns such as but not limited to,
Ferguson, Missouri and New York City. This is where body cameras demonstrate their necessity in our society and culture.
As previously mentioned, both Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin’s deaths both went unrecorded, and the only substantial evidence of what occurred is the accounts of those who fired the fatal bullets. This is a defined problem. Despite either the positive or negative intentions of the officers who fired their weapons, each one has a bias, and with that, it can lead to that party giving a skewed opinion on how the events of each occurrence actually went down. The idea of a human source is just simply too unreliable, and it comes down our own human nature with bias’, and the fact that every single person has one. The use of body cameras instead in these instances would ultimately resolve this problem. Real footage would clearly display whether or not the use of fatal force was indeed necessary to use upon an unarmed civilian, and if not, it would hold the actually guilty party accountable for their actions. By simply attaching a recording device to an officer’s person, society is able to cut out human bias, and reveal the true nature of the event. The benefit alone in these new technologies makes the investment worth every dollar.
Rialto, California has been the poster child for the implementation of body cameras to its local police force for the past few years. Starting in the February 2012, every officer on the force was given a body based camera that was to be worn at all times, and was to be turned on each time an arrest was given or when an encounter with a civilian was held. The statistics nearly a year later are shocking in terms of the effectiveness of the cameras. In that year, the complaints against their local police force fell by a remarkable 88 percent, and in that same time period, the

use of physical force by the police dropped by 60 percent (NY Times). It is clear from this study that body cameras have a role in 21 century policing, and can be an effective means of reducing police brutality against citizens.
Not only do these cameras protect citizens, but they additionally have many beneficial qualities for those who wear them. By having this footage, law officials are able to gather evidence that can debunk a false story or claim by the person being arrested, and in the case of
Michael Brown, can give support to story told by Darren Wilson, the officer who fired the shots.
The use works effectively in both sides of the spectrum.

● How many of you feel uncomfortable when you are driving and see a police officer, are you speeding, or not? I guarantee that at some point you feel uncomfortable being around the police, which is ironic because they are the men and women put in place to protect you and keep you safe.
● Majority of class is white, imagine you are a minority in a large city, especially african amerian, where police prejudice does exist. And imagine that due to your race, you are statistically more likely to dealt with physical force
● Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin are key examples of this ­ each w/ fatal outcomes
● Two sides of the story ­ and race has been an issue on both sides
● Protests and riots have become the result ­ major damage to cities and local businesses
● This is where body cameras show their necessity in our everyday culture
● They give one true view, and would stop this looting and damage to society seen in cities such a ferguson missouri
● Rialto, California started to implement these body cams in february 2012
● results have been extremely successful ­ 88 percent drop in civilian complaints and 60 percent drop in use of physical force
● officers used force 25 times down from the 61 of the previous year
● this is small scale but shows the potential of this technology
● everyone would be held accountable
● eliminate any debate to whether force was needed
● stops police from using excessive force and as a result the citizens are more happy
● supports the police during trials and prosecution

● protects the police as well as the citizens
●